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Barchester In The News

Older women are drinking more than ever before, according to a new study carried out by the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse. And while research focused on individuals across the pond, it is an issue that could well be affecting a generation of women in the UK.
Scientists have found that binge drinking is increasing far more rapidly in the older female population than the equivalent in men...

Magnet therapy could be the breakthrough needed to treat Alzheimer’s disease, it has been revealed. According to a new study, the non-invasive technique, which involves placing magnets on the head to change the activity of the brain, could soon be available as a treatment for the condition in the UK.
The research was carried out by scientists at McGill University in Montreal Canada and it found...

Oxybutinyn, a drug that is regularly prescribed on the NHS for urinary incontinence, has been found to increase the risk of developing dementia. Thousands of patients across the UK take the medication and its usage has increased by 31 per cent in the last five years alone.
The way the drug works is by preventing the muscles in the bladder from going into spasm, which in term causes overactive...

Using terms such as dear or sweetie should be avoided when talking to people with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study has suggested. While the words, which are referred to as elderspeak, may seem friendly, they can actually feel patronising to the person involved and even lead to a downward spiral in the advancement of the condition.
Researchers at Saint Mary’s College of California looked into the...

A new device has been approved in the UK and Europe that could reduce the impact of falls by up to 90 per cent. The high-tech HipHope belt is fitted with sensors that constantly monitor the movement of the wearer. When a sudden fall towards the ground is detected, two airbags inflate to protect the hip joints.
The airbags are activated in less than a second, acting as a cushioning barrier between...

Nearly half of UK men over the age of 50 suffer from an enlarged prostate, making related issues a growing problem. Now, a non-invasive procedure has been successfully trialled in Portugal, which could revolutionise the way men are treated for prostate problems that often result in frequent trips to the toilet.
A healthy prostate is usually around the size of a walnut, but in many men as they age...

As well as looking for new drugs to treat dementia once the symptoms have arisen, experts are also keen to establish which elements of a person’s lifestyle can help shield them from the condition. The latest of these to come under scrutiny is coffee.
New research has found that caffeine can help to protect against the effects of dementia, which can be debilitating. The reason for this is all to...

It is not surprising that finding a cure or effective treatment for Alzheimer’s disease is a high priority for medical researchers. After all, the Alzheimer’s Society has predicted that by the year 2025, more than one million people in the UK will be afflicted by dementia.
News that late-stage trials of a promising new drug to treat the condition have been abandoned is, therefore, disappointing...

An expert in the care of the elderly has suggested that older people should not wait until they are infirm to move into a home. Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, has suggested that making the transition while still fit and able is better for pensioners in the long-run.
She noted that most older people wait until crisis point before they move into specialist...

Men are expected to have a similar life expectancy as women by 2030, according to new research. A study carried out by Imperial College London and the World Health Organization (WHO) analysed the lifespans of 35 industrialised countries and how they are likely to change in the years to come.
While South Korea is seen to have the best conditions for the elderly to live the longest going forward,...